Power and Abuse in the United Farm Workers
Power and Abuse in the United Farm Workers
The alleged sexual violence committed by Cesar Chavez cannot be understood as the failing of a single charismatic leader. It unfolded within a patterned system of organizational control over UFW members.
This article appears in our forthcoming Spring 2026 issue. Subscribe now to receive a copy.
In the mid-1970s, ...
The strongest version of this narrative is that the UFW’s achievements in labor rights were accompanied by a deeply flawed organizational culture that enabled systemic abuse. The article provides compelling evidence of Chavez’s predatory behavior and the complicity of the UFW’s leadership in maintaining a climate of fear and control. The use of psychological manipulation techniques like "the Game," borrowed from a cult-like organization, underscores how power dynamics within the UFW devolved int...